(19) & (11) EP 2 206 540 A1 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION (43) Date of publication: (51) Int Cl.: 14.07.2010 Bulletin 2010/28 A63F 13/10 (2006.01) G10H 7/00 (2006.01) (21) Application number: 10161233.1 (22) Date of filing: 16.06.2008 (84) Designated Contracting States: • Schmidt, Dan AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR Cambridge, MA 02139 (US) HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT • Rigopulos, Alexander RO SE SI SK TR Cambridge, MA 02139 (US) Designated Extension States: • Teasdale, Dan AL BA MK RS Cambridge, MA 02139 (US) • Foster, Chris (30) Priority: 14.06.2007 US 944054 P Cambridge, MA 02139 (US) (62) Document number(s) of the earlier application(s) in (74) Representative: Lawrence, John accordance with Art. 76 EPC: Barker Brettell LLP 08771169.3 / 2 173 444 100 Hagley Road Edgbaston (71) Applicant: Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. Birmingham, West Midlands B16 8QQ (GB) Cambridge, MA 02139 (US) Remarks: (72) Inventors: This application was filed on 27-04-2010 as a • Kay, Robert divisional application to the application mentioned Cambridge, MA 02139 (US) under INID code 62. • Lopiccolo, Greg Cambridge, MA 02139 (US) (54) System and method for simulating a rock band experience (57) Rhythm-action games for a home gaming plat- form which have the capability of supporting multiple players and/or multiple instrument types and online play are described. Such games may provide a plurality of different gaming experiences depending on what type of controller is plugged into the game. Online gameplay, vocalist game play, depictions of music cues, band per- formance indicators, and player reinstatement tech- niques for such games may be provided. EP 2 206 540 A1 Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR) 1 EP 2 206 540 A1 2 Description buttons on a simulated guitar. As cues appear in each of the sub-lanes, a player must press the appropriate cor- RELATED APPLICATIONS responding fret button. [0006] In some cases, the sub-lanes are laid out to [0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. 5 correspond to a linear set of input elements. For example, Provisional Application Serial Number 60/944,054, filed a lane may be divided into five sub- lanes, each sub-lane June 14, 2007 and titled "Systems and Methods for Sim- containing red cues, green cues, yellow cues, blue cues ulating a Rock Band Experience," and which is hereby and orange cues, respectively, to correspond to a guitar explicitly incorporated by reference herein. having a linear arrangement of a red button, green button, 10 yellow button, blue button and orange button. Displaying FIELD OF THE INVENTION cues may be more challenging in instances where input elements are not linearly arranged. For example, in the [0002] The present invention relates to rhythm action DRUMMANIA series of games published by Konami, games, and, more specifically, video games which sim- players provided input via a number of drum pads and a ulate the experience of playing in a band. 15 foot pedal. Foot pedal actions were signified by a sub- lane containing cues shaped like feet. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0007] In some single-player rhythm action games, such as the GUITAR HERO series, it is possible for a [0003] Music making is often a collaborative effort player to "fail" midway through a song. That is, if the play- among many musicians who interact with each other. 20 er’s performance falls below a given threshold, the player One form of musical interaction may be provided by a may be prevented from completing the song. Such a fail- video game genre known as "rhythm-action," which in- ure may be accompanied by sounds of the music stop- volves a player performing phrases from a prerecorded ping, the crowd booing, and images of the band stopping musical composition using a video game’s input device the performance. This possibility of failure may enhance to simulate a musical performance. If the player performs 25 a game by providing more serious consequences for poor a sufficient percentage of the notes or cues displayed, performance than simply a lower score- if a player wants he may score well and win the game. If the player fails to complete a song to the end, the player must satisfy a to perform a sufficient percentage, he may score poorly minimum standard of performance. Adapting this failure and lose the game. Two or more players may compete mechanic to a multiplayer game presents a challenge, against each other, such as by each one attempting to 30 as the enhanced incentives for good performance may play back different, parallel musical phrases from the be desired, but it may be undesirable for one player to same song simultaneously, by playing alternating musi- remain inactive for long periods of time while others are cal phrases from a song, or by playing similar phrases playing a song. simultaneously. The player who plays the highest per- [0008] In many cases players may wish to play rhythm centage of notes correctly may achieve the highest score 35 action games online, either cooperatively or competitive- and win. Two or more players may also play with each ly, with remote players. Thus there exists a need for ef- other cooperatively. In this mode, players may work to- ficient ways of matching remote players of rhythm action gether to play a song, such as by playing different parts games. of a song, either on similar or dissimilar instruments. One example of a rhythm-action game is the GUITAR HERO 40 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION series of games published by Red Octane and Activision. Another example of a rhythm-action game is the KARA- [0009] The present disclosure broadly relates to video OKE REVOLUTION series of games published by Kon- games which may be used to simulate a rock band ex- ami. perience. [0004] Past rhythm action games that have been re- 45 [0010] In one aspect the present invention relates to leased for home consoles have utilized a variety of con- systems and methods for indicating the performance of troller types. For example, GUITAR HERO II, published a plurality of players playing a video game simulating a by Red Octane, could be played with a simulated guitar rock band experience. In one embodiment, a method controller or with a standard game console controller. may include: calculating a player score for each player [0005] A rhythm action-game may require a number 50 playing a rhythm action game within a band, each player of inputs to be manipulated by a player simultaneously score representing the performance level of a particular and in succession. Past rhythm action games have uti- player; calculating a composite score for the band playing lized lanes divided into sub-lanes to indicate actions. In a rhythm action game, the composite score based in part these games, a lane is divided into a number of distinct on a performance level associated with each player with- sub-lanes, with each sub-lane corresponding to a differ- 55 in the band; displaying the composite score on a per- ent input element. For example, a lane for a player might formance meter as a performance level; and displaying be divided into five sub-lanes, with each sub-lane con- each player score on the performance meter as a graph- taining cues corresponding to a different one of five fret ical indication positioned on the meter at a position cor- 2 3 EP 2 206 540 A1 4 responding to the calculated player score. corporated into a simulated guitar controller. [0011] In a second aspect, the present invention re- [0015] In a fifth aspect, the present invention relates lates to systems and methods for allowing players in a to systems and methods for creating and using simulated band to reinstate a member of the band who has failed drum sets in rhythm action games. In one embodiment, a given song during a game. Broadly, band members 5 a simulated drum set may comprise a foot pedal using a may use their own performance during a song to reinstate contactless switch. In still another embodiment, a video a band member who has failed during the course of the game may allow a user to navigate menu items using a song. Once a band member has failed, options are given simulated drum set. In still another embodiment, a video to other members of the band who have achieved a pre- game may reassign different percussion sounds to drum determined bonus or performance level to save the fallen 10 pads during the course of a single song. band member. Once saved, the failed member returns [0016] In another embodiment, a video game may in- to normal play of the song. In this manner, failure still has dicate a foot pedal is to be used through the use of one the consequence of removing a player from a song at or more special gem indicators. Broadly speaking, for leasttemporarily, and perhaps permanently if bandmates rhythm action games, a display in which musical cues are unable or unwilling to save the fallen member. How- 15 are confined to distinct sub-lanes may not be optimal for ever, by providing the option of reinstatement, band all types of input devices. For example, if a simulated members can prevent their friends from long stretches drum set contains a number of drum pads and foot pedal, of inactivity following a failure. This may have the added the foot pedal may be neither "to the left" nor "to the right" benefit of encouraging band members to perform strong- of the drum pads.